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2018 Subaru Outback Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 3 NHTSA recalls and 816 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

F
33/100

Very High Reported Activity — 2018 Subaru Outback

The 2018 Subaru Outback shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.

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3
NHTSA Recalls
3 recalls on record
816
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
27
Crash Reports
4 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2018 Subaru Outback (3)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Subaru dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Visibility: Rearview Mirrors/Devices
Failure to display the rearview image while backing up increases the risk of crash.
Remedy: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the audio system display software, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at…
NHTSA #18V935000
🔧 Electrical System: Software
The inaccurate fuel display may cause a driver to unexpectedly run out of fuel and the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the combination meter software, free of charge. The recall began February 20, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's…
NHTSA #18V773000
🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Fuel Pump
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number…
NHTSA #21V587000
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Most Common Problems — 2018 Subaru Outback

Based on 816 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Electrical System
256
Visibility/wiper
214
Unknown Or Other
118
Visibility
41
Steering
36
Fuel/propulsion System
25
Vehicle Speed Control
17
Engine
16
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Subaru Outback — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2018 model year is highlighted.

2012 294 complaints 2013 297 complaints 2014 208 complaints 2015 509 complaints 2016 642 complaints 2017 919 complaints 2018 816 complaints 2019 1,036 complaints 2020 901 complaints 2021 298 complaints 2022 465 complaints

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2019 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2014 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2018 Subaru Outback

Is the 2018 Subaru Outback reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 Subaru Outback has 3 recall campaigns and 816 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2018 Subaru Outback have?
The 2018 Subaru Outback has 3 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Subaru Outback?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2018 Subaru Outback are: Electrical System, Visibility/wiper, Unknown Or Other, Visibility. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2018 Subaru Outback safe to buy?
The 2018 Subaru Outback has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 3 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Subaru Outback should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Subaru Outback are: 2014. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2019.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.